Search found 1287 matches

by MrBobcat
Sun Mar 24, 2024 11:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: buying mutual funds seems easier than buying ETFs
Replies: 64
Views: 4877

Re: buying mutual funds seems easier than buying ETFs

syc wrote: Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:52 am
Mutual funds are easier: "invest this many dollars". You get however many shares that buys.

Should I be doing something differently? For example, the "Market" method? I'm worried I'll end up buying shares at much higher price than I intended. Maybe that's a silly worry, and prices don't change that dramatically during one day?
Yes just use the market method, the result is the exact same, invest this many dollars you get however many shares that buys. Don't get hung up on the daily price fluctuation, they're meaningless in the long run. Do you also worry when you place a mutual fund order and the closing price is higher than the previous day's closing price?
by MrBobcat
Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to avoid getting ripped off on urgent home repairs?
Replies: 47
Views: 3568

Re: How to avoid getting ripped off on urgent home repairs?

What's the best way to avoid getting ripped off when you need urgent home repairs? I've been burned more times than I want to admit by crappy handymen, or plumbers and electricians who are doing stuff on the side who I later find out cut corners. I don't know what is up to code or isn't, but come to find out a lot of these folks apparently don't either (or they don't care). A friend of mine says "you aren't rich enough to hire the cheapest bidder to do the job." In the last month we've had a hot water heater that needed to be replaced and some gas venting for our HVAC that needed to be repaired. Both of these were pretty urgent safety issues that couldn't wait a week or two to get "three estimates" or for a small compan...
by MrBobcat
Wed Mar 20, 2024 6:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Growing Tomatoes in Five Gallon Buckets
Replies: 39
Views: 4458

Re: Growing Tomatoes in Five Gallon Buckets

Fiddle-Bow wrote: Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:12 pm OP, I haven’t tried buckets but I have used this Earth Box with success. It’s an easy way to grow tomatoes and other vegetables.

https://earthbox.com/gardening-systems/ ... x-original
You beat me to recommending these. We've been using them for years. Can not recommend them enough.
by MrBobcat
Sun Mar 17, 2024 3:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: basic expense tracking
Replies: 21
Views: 1720

Re: basic expense tracking

Everybody budgets differently. I like KlangFool's formula. Gross income = current annual expense + current annual savings/investment + taxes or expense = gross income - savings - taxes. I use this formula to cross check my annual expense (CC payments plus what comes out of our checking account directly). I pay almost everything on a CC, do have a few expenses come directly out of my checking account. I have one CC strictly for groceries (because I'm curious) and one CC for everything else. I also know what all my fixed expenses are, ie utilities, RE tax, car licenses, insurance, etc... what I absolutely need at a bare minimum to survive. The rest is variable and what I have control over. I absolutely do not care what we spend our money on, ...
by MrBobcat
Sun Mar 17, 2024 3:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to fix sewer back up?
Replies: 28
Views: 1896

Re: How to fix sewer back up?

Blue456 wrote: Sun Mar 17, 2024 11:50 am
popoki wrote: Sun Mar 17, 2024 11:45 am Did previous owners disclose this defect? Has plumber worked on this house for previous owners? Maybe you can sue to have it corrected.
Previous owners did not disclose this issue. I would love to recoup some of the costs of construction and loss of value of the house. Can we still sue the previous owner for not disclosing this?
This exact thing happened to a neighbor/friend of ours. The original owners knew (plumber said they'd been there numerous times with the issue with the previous owners) and did they not disclose, They contacted the relator and the previous owner had to pay to have the sewer line dug up and replaced.
by MrBobcat
Sat Mar 16, 2024 2:34 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retire in 7 years, getting close enough to plan
Replies: 22
Views: 3322

Re: Retire in 7 years, getting close enough to plan

Unless I missed it your did not say what your expenses will be, what your Social Security will be, what your house is worth, and how large your mortgage and mortgage payment is. You can edit your post using the icon with the pencil on it to add that information so that you might get better responses. I edited the post. I didn't see the point of putting in a mortgage payment because even if we don't pre-pay it, it pays off in 7 years, which is right when we plan to retire. So, it will be gone. The monthly mortgage right now is $2248 (includes taxes and insurance). I don't know about Social Security. The numbers from the SSA assume we will keep earning peak earnings (our earnings right now) until we are 67. That's not going to happen. I don'...
by MrBobcat
Sat Mar 16, 2024 2:04 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retire in 7 years, getting close enough to plan
Replies: 22
Views: 3322

Re: Retire in 7 years, getting close enough to plan

I don't know if I'm right or wrong, but in the last 5 years that we've been leading up to retirement I've concentrated on piling our money into a taxable account to give us as much flexibility to control our income with the ACA subsidies in mind. Our current retirement investment breakdown is Taxable - 44%, Roth 33%, SEP 24% and HSA 2%. In your position I'd have a hard time not continuing maxing the 401(k)'s given the tax savings. If you're still eligible for Roth IRAs, I'd continue those too. If the Traditional IRAs are non-deductible, I'd forgo those in favor of taxable. If the tIRAs are deductible I'd be on the fence, yes more tax savings is good, but IMO so is having the flexibility with a taxable account being you want to retire before...
by MrBobcat
Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Late Bloomers Club: Share Your Net Worth!
Replies: 107
Views: 21841

Re: Late Bloomers Club: Share Your Net Worth!

After reading through the posts on this forum, I can't help but feel like I may be the only one in my mid-40s with a relatively modest net worth of less than $400,000 (and income of a bit less than $130K). If you're in a similar situation, I'd love to hear from you and know that I am not alone! I was 41 when our oldest of 3 started college (2007). Our household income was $106k, net worth including home/business was around $200k (guess but close). Youngest of 3 graduated college in 2015. Our HHI had gone up to about $180k during that interval. With the last of the kids out of college we took all that money formerly going toward education (no 529s for us) and paid off the house over 2 years, then we took all that money and ramped up savings...
by MrBobcat
Sat Mar 09, 2024 5:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How much do you spend a month on food?
Replies: 336
Views: 30434

Re: What's normal for grocery costs for a family?

If you're buying the meat/produce you prefer and you don't have a lot of waste, probably not a lot to be done. If you want to compromise on the protein and go for burger/chicken/pork instead you can probably save $.
by MrBobcat
Fri Mar 08, 2024 1:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What would you have done differently if you could go back and restart your financial journey?
Replies: 68
Views: 5922

Re: What would you have done differently if you could go back and restart your financial journey?

TravelforFun wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:46 pm
MrBobcat wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:38 am I honestly don't think I'd change anything. Were mistakes made along the way, yep, but they were learning experiences and I wouldn't be where I am today without having made them.
You serious? If you got to go back to your 20s and knowing what you know now, you wouldn't change a thing?

TravelforFun
Serious. I was raising kids in my 20s, which IMO having them young was one of the best decisions we made.
by MrBobcat
Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mental Accounting OCD
Replies: 5
Views: 586

Re: Mental Accounting OCD

Make a second investment account to keep your short term treasuries in, then you can keep them separate from your other investments and keep them separate from you CMA. I feel your OCD, lol.
by MrBobcat
Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:38 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What would you have done differently if you could go back and restart your financial journey?
Replies: 68
Views: 5922

Re: What would you have done differently if you could go back and restart your financial journey?

I honestly don't think I'd change anything. Were mistakes made along the way, yep, but they were learning experiences and I wouldn't be where I am today without having made them.
by MrBobcat
Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much car can I afford?
Replies: 114
Views: 9375

Re: How much car can I afford?

nextmilenium wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 3:56 pm I'm a frugal person by nature but realize I can't take the money with me when I'm 6 ft under. But I don't want to go crazy either.

I'm looking at the BMW M4 Competition ($100K) and Porsche 911 4S ($150K) as potential choices. Yes, they are expensive cars for my standard.

If I was considering $40K Honda or Toyota, I wouldn't have thought twice. But the BMW or Porsche not only cost more in initial purchase price but the insurance and maintenance will be much higher also.
My rule of thumb is if I have to think twice about something due to price it's probably not worth it to me.
by MrBobcat
Sat Mar 02, 2024 12:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip from KC to Bozeman
Replies: 41
Views: 2925

Re: Trip from KC to Bozeman

Hi We are flying into KC beginning of June and planning an 11 day trip to drive through Nebraska to Sioux Falls, Mt Rushmore and end in Bozeman. Looking for any recommendations and ideas because we are totally unfamiliar with area. Is the drive difficult? I believe a lot of it is flat and my wife hates mountain roads. Also how difficult will it be to see some of Yellowstone around June 15. We are not in our early 70’s and walk a lot but not interested in hikes. Thanks. That's unfortunate I was going to suggest getting on I-90 and then head up over the Beartooth Highway (if it's open for the season) driving over to Cooke City and going into the NE entrance of Yellowstone. Drive through the Lamar Valley, head over to Mammoth, then drive thro...
by MrBobcat
Sat Mar 02, 2024 12:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip from KC to Bozeman
Replies: 41
Views: 2925

Re: Trip from KC to Bozeman

Hi We are flying into KC beginning of June and planning an 11 day trip to drive through Nebraska to Sioux Falls, Mt Rushmore and end in Bozeman. Looking for any recommendations and ideas because we are totally unfamiliar with area. Is the drive difficult? I believe a lot of it is flat and my wife hates mountain roads. Also how difficult will it be to see some of Yellowstone around June 15. We are not in our early 70’s and walk a lot but not interested in hikes. Thanks. That's unfortunate I was going to suggest getting on I-90 and then head up over the Beartooth Highway (if it's open for the season) driving over to Cooke City and going into the NE entrance of Yellowstone. Drive through the Lamar Valley, head over to Mammoth, then drive thro...
by MrBobcat
Sat Mar 02, 2024 12:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip from KC to Bozeman
Replies: 41
Views: 2925

Re: Trip from KC to Bozeman

Here's a video of Beartooth Highway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjiB7KI5b64
by MrBobcat
Sat Mar 02, 2024 11:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip from KC to Bozeman
Replies: 41
Views: 2925

Re: Trip from KC to Bozeman

hoops777 wrote: Sat Mar 02, 2024 11:56 am Thanks
Are you saying we can park outside Yellowstone and walk in to see a bunch of good features?
No, he's saying there are parking lots by the good features.
by MrBobcat
Sat Mar 02, 2024 11:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip from KC to Bozeman
Replies: 41
Views: 2925

Re: Trip from KC to Bozeman

Hi We are flying into KC beginning of June and planning an 11 day trip to drive through Nebraska to Sioux Falls, Mt Rushmore and end in Bozeman. Looking for any recommendations and ideas because we are totally unfamiliar with area. Is the drive difficult? I believe a lot of it is flat and my wife hates mountain roads. Also how difficult will it be to see some of Yellowstone around June 15. We are not in our early 70’s and walk a lot but not interested in hikes. Thanks. That's unfortunate I was going to suggest getting on I-90 and then head up over the Beartooth Highway (if it's open for the season) driving over to Cooke City and going into the NE entrance of Yellowstone. Drive through the Lamar Valley, head over to Mammoth, then drive thro...
by MrBobcat
Sat Mar 02, 2024 12:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Feels impossible to take the foot off the pedal of saving, but saving at the boglehead pace is stressful.
Replies: 88
Views: 13778

Re: Feels impossible to take the foot off the pedal of saving, but saving at the boglehead pace is stressful.

You are saving $15k in taxable. Let that be more flexible and see how it goes. Take some time to really think about what things would make your life better. The fact that you use the term starter home sounds like you are easily influenced by what other people have. It is just a home. If you can be safe and comfortable there, not upgrading just because will save you so much in upkeep, taxes, etc and relieve a lot of the financial stress you are feeling right now. What experiences can you share with your children so that you don't feel like you are waiting to start living? Just going to the park every weekend can change that perspective. I suppose I used that term because it literally was a "starter home" for us. It's our first hom...
by MrBobcat
Wed Feb 28, 2024 5:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Reluctant breadwinner
Replies: 14
Views: 1199

Re: Reluctant breadwinner

meadowrue wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 5:27 pm I’m not looking for relationship advice or to get into the back story of his business, but I would love to hear from other breadwinning spouses about how you make it work financially and how you handle the stress of being the sole provider.
How you make it work financially is adjust your lifestyle to your new means. Easier said than done in a lot of cases, especially when one has to go backwards.
by MrBobcat
Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:07 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College cheating, what would you do?
Replies: 64
Views: 4453

Re: College cheating, what would you do?

8foot7 wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:06 am The only correct answer here is to mind her own business. Life will be full of people who irritate her; an important life lesson will be understanding how to find contentment in oneself and not worry about how others get by.
Yep, learn to let it go.
by MrBobcat
Fri Feb 23, 2024 9:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Time to reach 1M and 2M milestones
Replies: 426
Views: 137344

Re: Time to reach 1M and 2M milestones

MrBobcat wrote: Fri Jun 11, 2021 2:19 pm Just hit $1MM yesterday, took 32.75 years. I'm not sure I'll hit $2MM.
Just hit 1.5mm this morning. 2.75 years to go up 500K, blows my mind.
by MrBobcat
Wed Feb 21, 2024 11:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Yellowstone trip - Advice
Replies: 37
Views: 3827

Re: Yellow Stone trip - Advice

7PapaFox wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2024 5:24 pm
During our last visit we struck up a conversation with the manager of one of the gift shops. She deemed September to be the season of "newly weds or nearly deads". Having been married for 40+ years, we knew which camp we were in.
Lol, we had our honeymoon in Sept in the park, got cut short as the park was burning down, we also did our 25th and 35th in the park.
by MrBobcat
Wed Feb 21, 2024 11:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Yellowstone trip - Advice
Replies: 37
Views: 3827

Re: Yellow Stone trip - Advice

Watty wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2024 9:37 am One more thing.

If anyone in your group is 62 the national park lifetime senior pass for $80 is a fantastic deal and it is good at a lot of places other than national parks. Get it at some place near your home before your trip so you will not need to deal with figuring out how to buy it at Yellowstone.
Nice older lady at the NE entrance tried really hard to sell me one of those in Sept, she even said I could apply the $20 from our week pass towards it. I just couldn't bring myself to tell her I was only 57.
by MrBobcat
Wed Feb 21, 2024 8:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Hearing aids: Costco or audiologist?
Replies: 44
Views: 5432

Re: Hearing aids: Costco or audiologist?

livesoft wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 4:56 pm Doesn't Costco hire audiologists?
Our Costco does.
by MrBobcat
Mon Feb 19, 2024 7:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Moving from 100% Stocks
Replies: 12
Views: 1490

Re: Moving from 100% Stocks

Like many things, it is OK but not optimal based on past data, and no one knows the future. Where do you want to end up? 90/10? 70/30? How many years of expenses do you have now? Will you have social security or a pension or anything that is indexed to inflation? What does the past data say? And how "suboptimal" is it? I know 70/30 is the recommendation, considering how strongly i've wanted 100/0 in the past, I'd probably do something like 80/20 or 85/15. My plan was to do ~2.5% variable percentage per year. I have enough wiggle room in the budget to handle the volatility of stocks, and wanted to avoid sequence of return risks, so I figured i could do 100% stocks originally if i was a variable percentage. Just not confident I kno...
by MrBobcat
Sun Feb 18, 2024 11:44 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is it Too Late to Invest in VTI?
Replies: 130
Views: 20967

Re: Is it Too Late to Invest in VTI?

HomerJ wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 10:10 pm
And the market WILL fall someday. Maybe even this Monday. Or maybe not for 2-5-10 more years.
Well not this Monday. :D
by MrBobcat
Wed Feb 14, 2024 9:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is my CPA nickel and diming me?
Replies: 18
Views: 2967

Re: Is my CPA nickel and diming me?

TBX831 wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2024 4:05 pm I own two small businesses and admit that taxes can be tricky. We got a new CPA last year because our last one of years retired. We just received an invoice for bookkeeping services for last year. It is higher than I was expecting but I’m a little perplexed by these two billings on the invoice;

“Reviewing and sending question to client”
“Meeting with other staff member to go over questions to discuss with client”

Are these typical charges one would expect to see when receiving an invoice from a CPA?
deleted, dupe
by MrBobcat
Wed Feb 14, 2024 9:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is my CPA nickel and diming me?
Replies: 18
Views: 2967

Re: Is my CPA nickel and diming me?

I own two small businesses and admit that taxes can be tricky. We got a new CPA last year because our last one of years retired. We just received an invoice for bookkeeping services for last year. It is higher than I was expecting but I’m a little perplexed by these two billings on the invoice; “Reviewing and sending question to client” “Meeting with other staff member to go over questions to discuss with client” Are these typical charges one would expect to see when receiving an invoice from a CPA? Looks like an attorneys bill. Probably using the same billing software... Anyway, CPAs, Attorneys, whatever, can only charge for their time and you can receive a detailed bill or no. I typically just log all those type of things throughout the ...
by MrBobcat
Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Birthday gift for kids at 13
Replies: 32
Views: 2617

Re: Birthday gift for kids at 13

I got a .22 rifle when I was 13, Remington model 572. Still have it. To be fair we lived in a rural area where it was useful.
by MrBobcat
Sun Feb 11, 2024 12:48 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Should my 21-year old nephew fire his financial advisor?
Replies: 99
Views: 10836

Re: Should my 21-year old nephew fire his financial advisor?

Grt2bOutdoors wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 11:50 am While there is a fiduciary duty to protect the minor, the attorney failed to fully grasp the meaning of fiduciary but understandably was likely not an investment professional nor do we know what his relationship to the broker was. We can not go back in time, but suffice to say that $200,000 could have been worth several multiples if not much more had it been heavily invested in the S&P 500 even with the various downdrafts that did occur in the last 19 years. For example, a simple 60/40 balanced fund allocated 60% S&P 500 and 40% Total Bond Market Index (VBAIX) would have been worth $794,000 today. Essentially, that broker thief has mismanaged that account to the tune of $500K.
That's downright depressing.
by MrBobcat
Sun Feb 11, 2024 11:44 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Starting young - teaching a 5 and 7 yo about investing
Replies: 9
Views: 728

Re: Starting young - teaching a 5 and 7 yo about investing

My partner is going to start teaching his kids (5.5 and 7.5 years old) about money and investing. Their grandma sends them $5 bills on a weekly basis and since my partner pays for everything, they never spend the cash. He has opened up accounts for them through his Charles Shwab and wants to invite them to deposit grandma’s weekly $5, with a $1 match for every deposit made. He wants to show them how it will grow if invested in something that generates interest. He is also thinking about opening a 529 for them His main question is: when your kids are young and you’re divorced, what is the best way to both help them save for future expenses and learn about money, as well as save for college? He should stop paying for everything and let them ...
by MrBobcat
Tue Feb 06, 2024 9:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pre early retirement steps
Replies: 22
Views: 2775

Re: Pre early retirement steps

jackb1117 wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 12:26 pm
* Get a handle on actual spending. I feel somewhat confident that we're in the $100k - $125k/yr range, but we've been lucky to be strong earners and frugal spenders, so haven't tracked an actual budget in many years. Need confirmation on our actual spend so I can be confident that our assets will support our SWR.
Income - taxes - savings = spending.
by MrBobcat
Tue Feb 06, 2024 4:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where do/would you invest/place extra funds each month?
Replies: 19
Views: 1888

Re: Where do/would you invest/place extra funds each month?

I put mine in my taxable account which is comprised of VTI and VXUS while maintaining my overall asset allocation.
by MrBobcat
Fri Jan 26, 2024 7:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Retirees, how much $ do you actually need
Replies: 48
Views: 7320

Re: Retirees, how much $ do you actually need

For anyone that recently retired, did you discover you needed 80-100% of your pre retirement pay? More? Or less? I'm a long way from retirement, now age 42 but I plan to have no mortgage by age 53 or sooner. No mortgage will mean a huge financial burden off our shoulders, as it's about 30-35% of our current monthly bills. Also, kids will be in their 20s and gone will be the competition and travel sports bills. Gone will be big college bills. I'm not saying I will retire at 53. I have a pension that will probably double from age 53 to say, age 62 or 65, but it would nice to not be stressed out, being forced to work until age 67 in my line of work (bedside healthcare). Thank you all. Not quite retired yet, but getting the kid's launched and ...
by MrBobcat
Sat Jan 20, 2024 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best cookware to buy
Replies: 143
Views: 13940

Re: Buy what works for you

Don’t buy a set. Buy what you cook with. It is OK to have mismatched pans. Buy them over time. ^ This X1000 I have an eclectic mix of All-Clad, Demeyere, and De Buyer (both stainless and carbon steel). Basically I figured out what pans I needed for the majority of my cooking and picked them up a piece at a time. My most used: Du Buyer carbon steel pan - 12.5" Du Buyer Stainless steal - 24cm/5.7 quart pot Demeyere Atlantis Proline 9.4-inch Stainless Steel Fry Pan de Buyer MINERAL B Carbon Steel Country Fry Pan - 12.5” All-Clad BD55406 D5 Brushed 18/10 Stainless Steel 5-Ply Bonded Dishwasher Safe Saute Pan with Lid Cookware, 6-Quart All-Clad Brushed Stainless D5 6-Quart Deep Saute Pan with Lid All-Clad 4213 Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Bonde...
by MrBobcat
Sat Jan 20, 2024 3:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best cookware to buy
Replies: 143
Views: 13940

Re: Best cookware to buy

bagle wrote: Fri Jan 19, 2024 4:19 am De Buyer carbon steel pans. Inexpensive, will heat quickly and grill properly, will last forever and become nearly non-stick if you season them properly, lighter than cast iron (I prefer to workout arms at gym).

There's a reason why a lot of French chefs and home cooks use them. Not for germophobics, though (guillotine if you clean with detergent) or for impressing guests with shiny pans.
I absolutely love my De Buyer carbon steel pans.
by MrBobcat
Mon Jan 15, 2024 12:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Beating the market too easy?
Replies: 51
Views: 6826

Re: Beating the market too easy?

It appears OP is and above average investor who likes to start these kinds of theads.

viewtopic.php?t=413192
by MrBobcat
Fri Jan 12, 2024 5:51 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I Would Not Have Retired Without Bogleheads - Thank You
Replies: 19
Views: 4191

Re: I Would Not Have Retired Without Bogleheads - Thank You

Gah, I missed my 5 year anniversary of joining this site yesterday. This community has been a huge help and I've passed everything I've learned here to my kids who are starting out so they won't have to make all the mistakes I did.

I can honestly say I would not be where I am today w/o this forum. The knowledge on safe w/d rates, low cost indexing, SS withdrawal optimization, etc. have been life changing. Fingers crossed that I'll sell my business and be retired by year end with a retirement plan in place.
by MrBobcat
Thu Jan 11, 2024 12:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Hearing aid use questions
Replies: 10
Views: 1306

Re: Hearing aid use questions

Everything is loud but the annoying things are sounds like plates in the sink and the sounds like my wife handling a bunch of bags of things moving them around in the freezer and getting my vitamins out of the jar rattling noise. When I was 30 years old with excellent hearing those sounds were not so abrasive so I am assuming I need to adjust the sound. I realize all of this is new but I doubt that degree of loudness is normal. I also can control the volume with my phone app during the day and not certain if I should mess with that so soon or give it a week or more? Thanks Don't mess with the sound, the annoying noises are normal when first getting used to the hearing aids, your brain will re-learn how to adjust for these and shut them out...
by MrBobcat
Tue Jan 09, 2024 2:14 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How do I stand?
Replies: 31
Views: 4580

Re: How do I stand?

Trying to do a better Job on expense tracking: 30 K for main utilities (gas, water, phone, tv, internet etc.). No factoring in gas for car, groceries, anything bought with a credit card (paid in full all the time). But i Know I need to clamp down and keep track of it all better. If you know what you pay on your CC each month plus what you spend for your 30K you should have all you need to know spending. Not necessarily. I can’t put my property taxes on a credit card, for example. And they are a significant expense. Auto insurance and HOA fees are less significant, but can’t be paid by credit card either OP is correct; s/he needs to do a deep dive into expenses At age 55, there is an early phase of retirement that will solely be covered by ...
by MrBobcat
Tue Jan 09, 2024 1:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How do I stand?
Replies: 31
Views: 4580

Re: How do I stand?

Sunshine98 wrote: Tue Jan 09, 2024 1:14 pm Trying to do a better Job on expense tracking: 30 K for main utilities (gas, water, phone, tv, internet etc.). No factoring in gas for car, groceries, anything bought with a credit card (paid in full all the time). But i Know I need to clamp down and keep track of it all better.
If you know what you pay on your CC each month plus what you spend for your 30K you should have all you need to know spending.
by MrBobcat
Mon Jan 08, 2024 10:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pay Estimated tax year 2024 All In 1st QTR?
Replies: 37
Views: 4144

Re: Pay Estimated tax year 2024 All In 1st QTR?

dcop wrote: Mon Jan 08, 2024 10:09 pm My tax for 2024 tax year will be $14K. While I can pay it all in 4 equal amounts per qtr, I am seeing on various places across the web that I could pay the entire amount (via Direct Pay on IRS site) in the 1st qtr. However, all I can find on the IRS site is it has to be 4 equal payments.
Can anyone verify if I make the entire $14K payment on Jan.17, 2024 all will be ok with the IRS?

There will be an advantage to me doing this if allowed.
If you're going to pay the entire 2024 estimate in the first quarter why not at least wait till 4/15?
by MrBobcat
Mon Jan 08, 2024 6:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I'm 55: Should I do any Rule-of-55 planning?
Replies: 6
Views: 1614

Re: I'm 55: Should I do any Rule-of-55 planning?

Have you confirmed that your current employer's plan allows for partial withdrawals after you leave service? Yes: my current employer's plan allows for this after you become an ex-employee. So I should be good. For the dream-home purchase -- I was hoping maybe there was some smarty-pants way to use the money currently in the rollover (so, NOT in the 401K) to buy the house without actually withdrawing the money (so the house becomes an asset in the retirement account). Not sure if that's a thing regular people can do -- I've just heard vague stories about Senators, Congress-people, and Tech Execs doing things like that. A person can buy RE in an IRA (whether that's a great idea or not is another discussion). Caveat is the RE can't be for pe...
by MrBobcat
Mon Jan 08, 2024 5:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: make sense to have kid #3?
Replies: 77
Views: 20753

Re: make sense to have kid #3?

This is something wife and I have been contemplating for several years (we have 11 and 8yr olds). Wife is not the SAH type (that experiment 8yrs ago did not go well), otherwise we absolutely would have had a 3rd (maybe a few more). After several years of debating it, we closed that door a few weeks ago (vasectomy); at 42, I'm just too old for an infant. Money was not an issue for us, should not be an issue at all for OP. Not to hijack this thread, but my wife came home early from work today...she's pregnant. Literally a week between when she went off birth control and when I had my vasectomy :oops: So, Bogleheads, you are the first to know. :shock: Enjoy. Going to be a little different family dynamic with a 3rd being so much younger. I gre...
by MrBobcat
Mon Jan 08, 2024 3:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: make sense to have kid #3?
Replies: 77
Views: 20753

Re: make sense to have kid #3?

While I can understand people who don’t have kids due to the inability to raise them due to poverty. I don’t understand not having another one just to grow your finances. Have one (or don’t) based on how you feel about growing your family. We want to be financially responsible to our kids. Want to be able to afford reasonable things(extra curriculum, sports, hobbies) that they want. Also, we are not entirely sure if bringing kid number 3 will break the peaceful life we are having now. Both my older kids are very well behaved, bright and joyful. 3 kids are fine. Chaos is going to happen eventually, 3rd IMO doesn't make much difference. Kids need less than you think, but it looks like you will have no problem being financially responsible fo...
by MrBobcat
Mon Jan 08, 2024 11:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: If you are able to accomplish these, please tell me how
Replies: 112
Views: 26369

Re: If you are able to accompliesh these, please tell me how

runner3081 wrote: Mon Jan 08, 2024 7:50 am 1) I worked 50+ hours per week while we had a young child. Key difference, we were willing to sacrifice, financially, on our "wants" and live a frugal life to allow my wife to stay home. It is a matter of choices, here, really. I see so many people who choose to have both parents working so they can have nicer things, that is their choice. HCOL areas, etc, can always move somewhere else.
This is the route we went. As the kids got older and started school she started working again. Now they're all gone and on their own and we both work 50 hours/week.
by MrBobcat
Mon Jan 08, 2024 8:24 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Am I Crazy? Every Account is SP500 Index
Replies: 61
Views: 10588

Re: Am I Crazy? Every Account is SP500 Index

How sooner do you expect to achieve FI by this strategy?